Airship



J, NELSON.

AIR-SHIP. 7 APPLICATION FILED JULY i7. 19H).

Tnucnh z Mal iii Wk? {21-01 f.

- I j; VII/"1"? 3 SHEETS-SHEET I- Patented. Jan. 25, 192i.

NELSON 'Am-smP.

APPUCATION FILED HID/17.1919,

3 $HEETSSHEET J. NELSON. AIRSHIP.

APPUCATION HLED JULY 11 I919.

3 11 T 19K H 2 4 MN A /o m v c FMW M K)? 1 x .G s .w W a f m M a connecbion win Applieetiozz filed July 17, 1919.

T 0 whom it may coin-0mm Be in imown than m; Henson 2 Ci zei of file Uni ed. Smiles e1? Ann res ding @ttaw i in the 0011 z) and State of muses, have invented certain new and useiui Improvemenits in Airships of which Hie foiiowingg is specification.

The primeyy object 01" my invention ie fiche provision of'en. oi!- siiip adapted. to elevate Without the einpioyment of: wings or propelieis and to descend VJilfillQVilI' owned, such operations being entirely at the will of the pilot ineiii'i'ing onl the exper air exhausting and vacuum co to].

A further object of the inv on is be erovide an air ship having a chamber for providing elevating and lowering means for the ere-ii, While the travel i hi'ough the air is eoniil'oiiei by motor driven means, ihe ing the being ensiiy effected,

A stiii further object; of ihe inveni provide an air crafthz for elevating the erefi' through the air a cabin supperi-ed by Joe huil having in 1* CiiiVQH means for causing the craft to travel under the coniroi of steerhull adepzec to a suitabie height \ing niech:i'nism adjuitabie folding Wings en; in View, my invention Wiii, new be i'uily dGSClii)B(i in i the eeeompanyin I imwings and in which iiice reference diameters d6 note corresponding throughout the several Vie na in she die-" iege,

. Figure l is a side aim "mien 01' the invention posiizioned upon the ground,

Fig. is n top plan View Thereof,

Fig. 3 is e vericai, transverse, seetionel View of the some,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal deteii etionui view showing features of the wing operating means, and

Fig. 5 is an eniairged (lets-iii View, partly in section, 01": one of the Wheel members.

Broadly oonsidez'eii, my invention coniprises an inverted imii 10 having keel 11 longitudinally at the top ti'iereoi, the seiid 111111 being sniistani-iaiiy of the form oi? the hail of a ship with bew i2 and :1, stem"; 13. A. c 14: depends i om the bottom i k 'i'mil 10 he platform 1? ie 1;.

lo. shook ensorbem 1.8 ape; ailii ii of the poets ie have wheeie i= upon. one gnimnii 20 when i in use and for al'qiii inx .':1T-\;--Cyijnd1' meters 53 opposite side the forwarc ei'anl; shaft 36 at iile i upon each end of 5h I: abie in moving the a when eievaiiea iziie air on low ,ihe ground V po: pi'opei R31 1, beingsen sepa- Will be evident; e Fate controls for the opposite gal-ope may be employed in steering the cm; that a eeif-eimi't-er 2%? any desired form may be zno'uniieoi upon the a pini feimeshing oil the gear upon fine snaf and. eonstituiiin the ii Wheel An air exhausting pump f2"? commu 11 as at 28 W1 in of the Emil %0 through the geek 15 their-e015, a melt serving to opemijveiy connect said "puma; with eiieii the shaft 22 for eei'vice whenever in exhausting the an from the Ir uumgnge 30 upon the o 7 easy to ascertain co di bions Witw hull 1U. This imii preferably sheet aluminum Paving suitable strong ingz stays or ribs 3]. of steel or sizii'ebie foetal, it being understood that simi m' sirengtib ening means may be provicied e1 iier exivercioi'iy or inieiioi'iy of the hull 10 While insulator such as asbestos may also be pm- Vided, if desired.

An air iniet valve 32 thyough one deck: is Cami-oiled by a. rod 38, it being understood that. Whenever it is (iesired to elevate the air craft, the pump 27 is opemie 7 forming vacuum Within the hill}, 16 whereby the surrounding air and the beneath the 11 .111 buoys-the same upwaidiy in the some manner that a submarine is caused to rise through the water when submerged by exhausting the WRill from he submarine, After the ship has readied the desired eie as :1. clutch permits the turning oi" the shaft without revolving the propellers 23 while it loose pulley 36 for the belt 29 permits the pump 27 to be :ictii e or idle at will. The pilot; upon the seat 37 carried by the platform 17' contrcds the motors All, propellers 33 :md pump 2'? at will nnd by l'orni inn the vacuum in the hull 'ltl ly operutlug said pinup 27 the air craft is caused l rrise to the desired elevation. the said hull l :ivino sullicicnt strength to withstand the ir p1 c sure from without.

in ini'lnting v: 3%, prm'ided for the hull il whereby suilnble gas may till the hull alter the usual manner oi n one hug end at wnioh times, the rod 5 3 would serve to permit the g: to escape from the hull 10 which Yonld [ill with air eunsing the descent of the air ship.

in enlpcninige -39 consists of n rudder l curried by :i bull ll in :1 socket 42 cel'itirnlly or the stern 13. This rudder is of double i'oi'nnition luring); horizontal fins 43 and werfiicnl linsrland operable for movement upon the ball joint 4]., by the rods 45 :is :1 Vertical rudder and by the rods l6 as :1 horizontal rudder. ilull cords 4-7 attached to the rods pass ()VOr pulleys or similar means 4-8 and extend to it convenient. point. for operation by the pilot in any manner desired, such us by a steering wheel 49, The rods are adapted to slide within slots V" and whereby it will be evitl e 11 the jln'li lj inuy be :nsily steered ulernlly by the shilling ol' the rudder il lnough 'l'he agency 0'. lltl wheel 49. in a similar manner, cords 5i. are carried by the rods 4-6 and extend to points ndjz'icent the drivers seat; 37 for convenience in steering the i-rnft upwardly and downwzu'dly.

holding \VlllQ'H or nerotoils are formed of such nniterml 21S canvas having their inner edges 53 secured :il. opposite sides of the mnenih ledges formed by recesses M i the hol'toin ol the hull 1.0. These Wing's n plurnlily of ribs 55 pivoted ut- 5'6 honenth the ledges 5% adjacent, rwnrd end of the hull and whereby or i i be evident. that. the wings 52 may 54.: led inwin'tlly substantially hen Hill the i. o l when not. in use but mny be pro iected outwardly at, opposite sides of the rrniitor supportiiur the weight of the craft in the air whenever desired. Suitable 'l'old- 55 ii l races 57 are provided between the ribs and rods 55w piyolcd as :it 59 to the sides of the hull ll) are attached as :it (50 nt. suitable points upon the wings for assist-in; in innintuining the wings horizontal when open. it being understood that any number oi rods 23 may he used while additional "wrcngrtheninp means for the wings may also he employed if desired.

it. suitably braced ledge (ii is provided at each side of the how 12 substantially in dccl; l5 with the corresponding opposite ends or the cord 32 attached to a slide 6 upon a. suitable support (37 beneath the deck 15. fl drum (ii journuled adjacent the plat form l7 has in flexible member or cord 35 wound uround suid drum with its opposite ends attached to the slide (ill. worm T upon at turn shnlt Tl having: :1 hand wheel 72 nit-shes wilh u pinion 73 tor operating the slide (56.

.lly turning the wheel 72 and moving: the slide ill) in the required direction the torwnrrlinost ribs 55' ol the wings 52 will be swungupon the pivots 56 either forwardly for opening the wings or renrwnrdly for closing the some as desired. The worm T and gear 73 provide means in which the wings 52 are locked at any desired adjustment either open or closed or in partially unfolded position, this being regulated during the operation of the air craft espe einlly when desiring to descend. l l hen the craft :ilights upon the ground such us 20, the propellers 23 are employed for moving the craft into the hanger.

The complete operation of the invention halving been fully described, the air ship may rise or descend at will as well as travel through the air steered by the double rudder ll) and the manipulation of the clutches 35 fol" the propellers lVhile the form of the invention herein shown and described is What is believed to be the preferable ei'nbodilnent of the some, it is nevertl'ieless to be understood that. minor changes may be made in the combination and urrungemcnt of parts without dermrting: "from the spirit. and scope of the same as claimed. W hen the air is exhausted from the hull the ship rises in the air until it finds an altitude where the Sll1I'0l1l'l(llll{ f air yuessure equals the pressure of the air that the hull of the air ship has displaced and compared with the lifting capacity oil on air ship using light air or gas. the ssnnc principle is employed that the heavier :iir surrounding;' the ship presses the ship upwardly together with its loud to a level where the atmospheric pressure is equalized.

Vl hat I claim as new is:-

1. [in air ship comprising an inverted hnlh jloldable Wings secured beneath the internl edges oi thc'null, ribs lor said wings pivoted adjacent; tlu'ri'orwm'd end of the hull, a slide centrally beneath the hull, an operating cord ilor each wing secured intermediate their end to the forward rib of the win the oppo, e ends of the cords being l'lO will be simultaneously opened or closed 11 on moving the slide longitudinally of the and operating means for said slide.

2. r n air ship comprising an inverted 'hull, foldable wings secured beneath the lateral edges of the hull, ribs for said win s pivoted adjacent the forward end of t e hull, a slide centrally beneath the hull, an

operating cord for each wing secured intermediate their ends to the forward rib of the wings, the opposite ends of the cords being attached to said slide whereby the wings will supporting pulleys for said flexible member,

a worm and pinion drive for said drum ull adapted for self-locking the wings when adjusted and an operating wheel for said worm and pinion drive.

3. An air ship comprising a vacuum controlled hull having side eaves, flexible wings secured at one edge beneath said eaves, strengthening ribs for the wings and means associated with the forward strengthening rib for opening and closing the Wings, said wings when folded being substantially disposed beneath said eaves.

4. An air ship including a vacuum con trolled hull, a car suspended therebeneath, flexible wings on the hull, strengthening ribs for the wings radiating froma single point, endless cords, each connected to the forward ribs of, the wings and operable from the car to open and close the wings.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

' JOHN ELSON. 

